“Hello Music Lovers!!” Welcome to another edition of KERRY’S CORNER Delving into the lives and works of the GREAT COMPOSERS!!
“THE
AMAZING STRAUSS FAMILY”
(picture – The “Danube River”)The Strauss Family from Austria were a mega talented band consisting of ‘Dad and three sons’ of which Johann the 2nd was the most famous.
They ruled the
ballrooms and coffee houses of Vienna in the Romantic Period.
It all started with dad, Johann Strauss the
elder, 1804 – 1849. He happened to be friends with the director of a popular
dance orchestra led by Josef Lanner who invited Johann to play the violin with
them. This experience really developed his skills as a musician, and he learnt
a lot about how to be a dance orchestra leader!
In 1825 he actually parted company with
Lanner and started up his very own dance music ensemble!! This group grew in popularity and scored some
amazing successes in the taverns of Vienna.
Johann’s ensemble soon developed into an orchestra of
considerable size. Engagements came thick and fast, frequenting the fashionable
dance hall called the “Sperl Inn” in Leopoldstadt.
This popular venue attracted distinguished
foreign visitors including Chopin, the young Richard Wagner and the writer Hans
Christian Anderson no less!!!
Johann had positioned himself firmly as a composer, violinist and conductor with a huge repertoire of works including “The Champagne Waltz” and the “Festival Waltz”. He also dabbled in ‘Fantasia Form’ and light Operatic Airs.
Along came 3 sons!!
Johann the 2nd, Josef &
Eduard
The most noted and famous son was of course Johann the 2nd.
“THE WALTZ KING!”
1825 – 1899
The “Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz”
has the well known and beloved tune that we associate with a dance in 3 time.
This epic waltz has no less than 12 motifs (or short themes) and borders on the
‘Symphonic!!’
It’s over 10 minutes long!!! …..and
the teasing intro is approximately one and a half minutes long, before we get
any sort of tune!! (Oh how l’ve daydreamed that l too, could adorn a beautiful
ball gown, whilst a tall, dark and handsome man twirled me around a Viennese
ballroom!!) ….ok snap out of it woman!
Johann went on to build an orchestra to rival his father’s
in 1844. He was a great violinist and achieved immense success. He also went on
to travel around Europe and America. The orchestra’s ever expanding catalogue
embodied Polkas, Marches, Quadrilles (a type of square dance), and of course
Waltzes. Less mentioned compositions included 18 light operas and ballets
flavoured with Austrian spirit ~ “The Bat and The Gypsy Baron” to name two.
Younger brothers Josef and Eduard
carried on the family tradition but never really reached the dizzy heights of
their older brother Johann Strauss the 2nd.
LIST OF HIS GREATEST WORKS
Tritsch – Tratsch Polka 1858
The Beautiful Blue Danube 1867
Tales from Vienna Woods 1868
Wine, Woman and Song 1869
Thunder and Lightning Polka 1868
Die Fledermaus 1874
HENRY PURCELL 1659-1695
English Composer
Throughout the history of music, Purcell rates as one of
the greatest!
He
even influenced the “Beatles” according to Leonard Bernstein! (with the use of simplistic phrasing and
modulations)
Born
and died in London, at the tragically young age of 36. ……but boy did he pack a
lot in, operas, stage works, odes, anthems, solo keyboard pieces, suites, the
list goes on and on! My absolute
favourite is his ‘Aria’ from the opera ‘Dido and Aneas’, especially when sung
by the brilliant Englishwoman Dame Janet Baker. Her portrayal of “When I am laid
in Earth” is like no other.
Lets talk about some English musical history here!
………hardly anything happened from Purcell’s reign, till hundreds of years later
when Edward Elgar came on the scene!
That’s
pretty tragic really…..what went so terribly wrong??? Other European countries
enjoyed a strong and continuing musical tradition from the Renaissance period
onwards. But to be fair, England was white hot in the literary field at this
time. (some guy named ‘Shakespeare’ I think)
Purcell
began as a Chorister in the Chapel Royal, then as organist at Westminster
Abbey.
He
married in 1680 and had several children. About two years went by as more of a
family man, until 1682 when he was appointed organist at the Chapel Royal. Henry also built church organs in his spare
time and looked after the King’s instruments. He was thought of very
highly!! However, sadly this changed
when the King died (Charles the 2nd) and
he ended up composing music for the courts again.
Purcell
churned out some great tunes including Odes, Welcome Songs, Royal Birthday
Songs and Marriage Music. One of the standouts was “Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day”
in 1692.
English King Charles the 2nd
S T A G E W O R K S
During
the last decade of his brief life, he concentrated on magnificent compositions
for the stage and theatre.
Bearing
in mind that opera as such didn’t really exist in England at this time, Henry’s
endeavours were quite revolutionary!! He
began by writing incidental music for five different operas, most notably “King
Arthur”, “The Indian Queen”, “The Fairy Queen” and “The Tempest”
These
works were all performed in top London theatres.
“Dido
and Aeneas” 1689 continues to this day to be Purcell’s greatest work, and
started life as a composition for a girls school in Chelsea!!
P U R C E L L ‘ S L
E G A C Y
His
genius lay in his unique talent for setting English words to music, whether
sacred or secular, and a total gift for melody.
He
left us to enjoy many dramatic creations, exquisite anthems, Te Deums , loads
of solo songs, partsongs, instrumental music for viols, violins, and continuo,
also ten charming sonatas and suites for keyboard instruments.
Among
his final works was the moving Funeral Music for Queen Mary. He soon followed
her to the grave aged 36.
Henry
is buried at the foot of the organ in Westminster Abbey.
YouTube clip of Janet Baker singing “When I am Laid in
Earth” from “Dido and Aeneas”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_50zj7J50U
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